Ruh Rho. Paula Abdul and her peeps are threatening to pick up their ball and go home:
Via the LA Times:
Paula Abdul is unhappy. And unless the producers of “American Idol” change her frown to a smile soon, she’ll dance like there’s no tomorrow away from TV’s No. 1 show.
“Very sadly, it does not appear that she’s going to be back on ‘Idol, ‘ ” David Sonenberg, Abdul’s manager, told The Times when contacted about the judge’s contract negotiations.
With auditions for the ninth season due to start Aug. 6, Sonenberg says he doesn’t even have a proposal for a new contract from FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment, the production companies behind the show. The new season is scheduled to premiere in January.
“I find it under these circumstances particularly unusual; I think unnecessarily hurtful, ” he said of the contract holdup. “I find it kind of unconscionable and certainly rude and disrespectful that they haven’t stepped up and said what they want to do.”
Representatives for Fremantle, 19 and Fox all separately declined to comment.
Paula’s representatives are using public threats to light a fire under Freemantle/19. The big money deal Ryan Seacrest just nabbed, and the reports of sick money Simon Cowell is negotiating must be driving Paula to push for a HUGE raise.
I think Idol would be crazy not to make her happy. Paula’s not expendable–she’s part of the chemistry that makes that panel work. The odd person out is Kara DioGuardi. Here’s an idea: ditch Kara and give Paula the difference. And then some.
Something tells me Paula will be back…this is just a little dance before the hard negotiations begin…
